In an interview broadcast Sunday with CNN, the Conservative leader sought to lower expectations about prospects for the insurgency-riddled country. He said Canada has had modest success over the course of its eight-year effort, but that any gains were vulnerable if the security situation were to worsen.

Yet simply staying the course in Afghanistan is not going to result in an inevitable victory.

Webmaster's Commentary:

The last man to conquer and actually hang onto Afghanistan was Alexander the Great, and he only kept it for three years.